Trying to decide Renix or HO

[pizzaman09]

Hi all, this is my introduction to Comanche Club.  I've spent most of my time playing with 90s BMWs and old British cars.  However, two summers ago, myself and 6 friends flew, 3500 miles out to Los Angeles. The goal was to buy two vehicles on Craigslist and drive them on an epic adventure back to Pennsylvania and selling them when we got home.  Basically we did not want to drive boring automatic rental cars.  I ended up picking up an amazing 1988 Comanche SporTruck 4.0L, 5 speed, 4x4.  I had never considered buying a truck before, but fell in love with the Comanche the moment I first drove it.  The truck performed perfectly 99% of the drive home, even with 176k miles on the clock.

 

Unfortunately, I followed through with the original plan and sold it. I regret it and am now looking for one to fill the void in my life it left.

 

The first question I have is should I go Renix or HO?  The Renix in my 88 was wonderful, so smooth, ran like a top, never missed a beat.  My parents had a 97 Grand Cherokee 4.0 that they bought brand new and kept for 20 years.  It was a great vehicle but for the last 10 years we owned it, the engine always had stumbling issues.  We tried many things, took it to 3 different Jeep dealers and no one could manage to fix the issue.  The issue left us stranded multiple times needing a tow.

 

From my research, it sure sounds like I want an 89 or 90 Mj with an AX-15 and a Renix engine.  However am I throwing out perfectly good 91 and 92 options with the HO engine?  

[thecodemonk]

If maintained, both are good. Both have different issues but there are easy fixes for it. The HO will have a few more HP. I wouldn't rule either out if you have a solid truck around it.

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[Dzimm]

HO for sure!  It's subjective really, as long as it's got a 4.0L in it, you'll love it.

[JMO413]

I thoughly enjoy the simplicity of the Renix system. On the not I works have no problem work an HO either. 

[pizzaman09]

Thank you for the feedback!  Having read significantly into how the renix system works, it is fundamentally a simple system to work on.  I've tuned EFI systems and I've gone through the balancing act of synchronizing dual carbs, mostly it just takes patience and some research to perfect.

 

Does anyone know when exactly the AX-15 transmission went into production?   I'd really like to avoid a BA10/5  if possible.   My 88 had the BA10, it actually was a joy to use but it wanted nothing to do with 2nd gear until it warmed up a little bit.

[89 MJ]

2 hours ago, pizzaman09 said:

Thank you for the feedback!  Having read significantly into how the renix system works, it is fundamentally a simple system to work on.  I've tuned EFI systems and I've gone through the balancing act of synchronizing dual carbs, mostly it just takes patience and some research to perfect.

 

Does anyone know when exactly the AX-15 transmission went into production?   I'd really like to avoid a BA10/5  if possible.   My 88 had the BA10, it actually was a joy to use but it wanted nothing to do with 2nd gear until it warmed up a little bit.

Half way through 89 is when they started using the AX-15.